Yoko Matsuno was taken aback, her eyes darting briefly before she lightly pursed her lips.
Though the price wasn’t specified, nor were any other costs explicitly mentioned, she hadn’t expected an outright agreement. But even if he wasn’t satisfied with the price, they could have negotiated further. Why the flat refusal?
Inexperienced rich kid!
Yoko Matsuno inwardly scoffed but kept making small talk, her eyes seductive. “Mr Lu, don’t be so quick to refuse. I’m genuinely sincere. Can’t we discuss it further?”
Lu Zheng, however, had no interest in continuing the game. He shook his head. “Not selling means not selling. Let’s eat. Try the Northwest Chinese cuisine; it’s got a unique flavour.”
Yoko Matsuno bit her lower lip, then picked up a piece of beef brisket and put it in her mouth. Her teeth gently bit down, the tomato and beef juices bursting forth, and she let out a satisfied hum. “It’s really delicious.”
Then she asked, “I understand your stance, Mr Lu. But could you perform that trick live for me?”
Lu Zheng smiled faintly. “There’s no difference between live and the video. You can study the video again.”
Lin Wan gave a silent chuckle. Performing a move like the Dragon Capturing Hand with martial arts qi? Good luck figuring that out from a video.
“Hmph,” Hikoichi Yamada snorted, finally unable to hold back. “Is it that you didn’t prepare the special props, or are you afraid performing in front of us would expose you? Or perhaps…”
“That trick can only be done on video?” Hikoichi Yamada glanced at He Feixiang, then at Lu Zheng. “Maybe Mr Lu doesn’t actually have the skill?”
Tch, the provocation tactic? Too bad it won’t work on me…
*Crack!*
A sharp sound rang out. Lin Wan’s chopsticks, poised to pick up food, froze mid-air, snapped in two by the tightening of her fingers.
“Hm?!” Hikoichi Yamada’s eyes widened.
*Gulp.* He Feixiang swallowed hard.
“Sorry, my mistake,” Lin Wan said calmly.
“My girlfriend’s been training in martial arts lately and hasn’t quite mastered her strength,” Lu Zheng said with a wink and a smile, turning to call a nearby waiter. “Waiter, could you bring us another pair of chopsticks? We’ll pay for these.”
“No need, it’s fine,” the waiter said, bringing a new pair of chopsticks. She hadn’t noticed the incident and assumed it was just playful behaviour, thinking it normal for someone to snap chopsticks with both hands.
Lin Wan glanced at Yoko Matsuno, who flinched, immediately sitting up straight with a prim, sweet smile and clear eyes.
Hikoichi Yamada and Yoko Matsuno exchanged a look, both puzzled.
They hadn’t paid attention to Lin Wan earlier and didn’t notice if she’d switched to trick chopsticks. But surely, coming for a meal, she wouldn’t have brought props, right? If not, how strong was her grip?
The two looked at Lu Zheng with sympathy, thinking no wonder he was unmoved by Yoko Matsuno’s earlier flirtations.
Yoko Matsuno inwardly cursed her impulsiveness. She’d dismissed Lin Wan as a gold-digging trophy, not expecting a fierce dragoness.
Hikoichi Yamada smacked his lips and stayed silent.
Lu Zheng shook his head, picking up another lamb chop from the table. As he ate, he tapped the table lightly and said calmly, “We’re almost done eating, so let me say a few words.”
“Hm?” He Feixiang’s eyes lit up, and Hikoichi Yamada and Yoko Matsuno turned their attention to Lu Zheng.
“Last time at Disneyland, I ran into Feixiang by chance and did a little trick on a whim. I didn’t expect the video to go viral and attract you two,” Lu Zheng said. “Honestly, I don’t do magic professionally, nor do I plan to sell any trick secrets. If you were Chinese, I wouldn’t care what you thought, as it doesn’t affect me.”
Hikoichi Yamada raised an eyebrow. “But we’re Japanese.”
Lu Zheng nodded. “If I don’t show you something, you’d look down on me. With what you just said, if you spread it around outside, I wouldn’t care, but wouldn’t that put Feixiang in a bad spot, causing trouble for himself despite his good intentions?”
“Brother Lu, I’m fine…” He Feixiang said quickly.
Lu Zheng waved him off, looking at Hikoichi Yamada. “Didn’t you want to see my magic?”
“Yes!” Hikoichi Yamada nodded.
With a slight flick of Lu Zheng’s fingers, a small lamb chop flew from the table onto Hikoichi Yamada’s plate.
“Impossible!” Hikoichi Yamada exclaimed.
“Is this real?!” Yoko Matsuno leaned back, eyes wide.
He Feixiang was dumbfounded. “This is definitely not magic!”
Lu Zheng shrugged, saying seriously, “If not magic, what is it? It’s just that the mechanism and technique are my exclusive secrets, which you can’t figure out.”
Hikoichi Yamada’s eyes lit up. He immediately picked up the lamb chop, examining it closely from all angles.
Yoko Matsuno’s eyes flickered. After a moment’s thought, she asked softly, “You just picked up a lamb chop too, Mr Lu. Did you tamper with this one when you took it?”
Lu Zheng’s lips curved, giving her a look as if she were a promising student. “Well done, Miss Yoko. You observed closely.”
Yoko Matsuno cautiously glanced at Lin Wan, who was looking down, her shoulders and arms slightly moving, perhaps rummaging in a bag on her lap. Yoko shot Lu Zheng a flirtatious glance. “You’re too kind, Mr Lu, but we didn’t notice anything.”
Hikoichi Yamada looked up. “Nothing at all?”
Lu Zheng nodded. “Of course, or it wouldn’t have worked, would it?”
Hikoichi Yamada nodded, his face bitter. He’d provoked Lu Zheng, only for him to perform a trick right in front of him, and he still saw nothing.
If even he couldn’t see through it, few in the world could. With this skill, Lu Zheng deserved to be called a magic master.
Yoko Matsuno and Hikoichi Yamada had known the trick was good and wanted to buy its secret to add to their repertoire.
But seeing it live, they realised how incredible it was. Even face-to-face, they couldn’t figure it out.
In the magic world, like the martial arts world, the skilled are respected.
Hikoichi Yamada stood, bowing deeply to Lu Zheng. “Mr Lu, I’m sorry. I was rude earlier. I apologise. You are an exceptional magician!”
Yoko Matsuno’s eyes sparkled. “Mr Lu, are you really not planning to become a professional magician? With your looks and unique trick, you could easily become a star magician!”
Hikoichi Yamada nodded. “If you’re willing, Mr Lu, I can introduce you to my teacher, Mr Yusuke Shimada. With your performance talent and magic skill, you could quickly take the international stage.”
